Ironing press and workholder



IRONING PRESS AND WORKHOLDEB Filed 001. 22, 1927 4 SheetsSheet 1 I r a 7x7 \IQ, 4 a r \C) 1,6 INVENTOR.

W/ Y ATTORNEYS.

' Fb. 28, 1933. E, DAv| s 1,899,891

IRONING PRESS AND WQRKHOLDE.

Filed Oct. 22. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v NVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 28, 1933. E: DAVIS v monme'rnsss AND woRKfioLDER Filed Oct 22, 1927 4 Sheets-Shget 5 \wumm BY gi /iwza mmvmns,

Feb. 28, 1933. E. DAVIS 1,899,89l

IRONING PRESS AND WORKHQLDER Filed Oct. 22, 1927- v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mwwxws.

Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE ERNEST DAVIS, 01? SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROSPERITY COMPANY INC., OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK IRONING PRESS AND WORKHOLDER Application filed October 22, 1927. Serial No. 228,041.

This invention relates to garment or ironing presses and has for its object a particularly simple and efiicient motor operated work holder such as a tail clamp for shirt pressing work. In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, a tail holder or clamp for shirt pressing machines is shown.

Another object of the invention is to pro- I vide a work holder of the shirt tail clamp type which has a compound movement consisting of one movement carrying a clamp band into position over one of the press jaws, the buck, and a second movement down upon the buck to clamp a shirt tail thereupon, and a motor means to impart to the work holder this compound movement.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of pressing machine embodying my invention showing the press jaws open and the work holder back away from the work, the work holder being shown in dotted lines as engag ing the work to hold it down on the buck or lower jaw.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine showing the work holder in front elevation. a

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the motion transmitting means between the motor and the work holder and in non-holding position free of the'work.

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary plan views of the mechanism shown in Figure 3 illustrating particularly a locking means for holding a movable support for the work holder against downward displacement during the first part of the movement of the clamp band toward the work but which thereafter acts to afford a downward movement of the clamp band against the work when said clamp band has swung across the buck and over the work thereon.

Figure 6 is an enlarged diagrammatic view suitable head-carrying member which is pivoted at 5 to a standard 6 rising from the frame. The press lever 4 in actuated by any suitable mechanism, that here illustrated comprising a cylinder 7 having a piston movable therein, the rod 8 of which is pivoted to the front end of a pull link or lever 9, the rear end of which is pivoted at 10 to the lower link 11 of a toggle. This toggle link 11 is pivoted at one end at 12 to the frame and at its other end to a toggle link 13 which is pivoted at 14 to the rear arm of the yoke lever 4. The cylinder 7 is pivoted at 15 to have an oscillating movement and the pull link 9 is drawn forwardly by a cam slot 16 formed in a bracket 17 rigid with the frame, the link 9 having a follower 18 movable in the slot. The move ment of the head 2 toward the buck 1 is against the action of a suitable counterweight 20 and countersprings 21, 22 to open the press after the motor means 7 is relieved of its driving force. I

The control of motive fluid as compressed air to and from the cylinder 7 forms no part of this invention, nor does the mechanism thus far described, and insofar as this inven-- Usually, however, such work holders are especially useful and desirable in connection with presses which include two elements, one of which is the head 2 which moves to- Ward and from the other element with a clamping action.

This invention comprises primarily, a work holder movable transversely of the pressing element or buck 1 into a position above the same and then toward the buck into clamping position against the work and having the reverse of these movements out of operative position or relation to the buck 1, and manually controlled or operator controlled power means for actuating the work holder.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the work holder has a pivotal or swinging movement from the rear side of the buck forwardly to the front side thereof under the press head across one end of the buck and then a downward movement toward the buck to clamp the work thereon.

The work holder comprises a metal clamp hand, strap or tape 31 and a carrier frame for the strap, the carrier frame being pivoted and including radially extendingarms 32 and 33 arranged at different angles so that they are in V formation, these two arms .32 and 33 projecting from a common pivotal shaft 34 located remotelyfrom the buck. The front arm 32 is arranged to clear or pass by one end of the buck 1 in its movement from the rear side to the front side and vice versa, and has an angularly extending overhanging horizontal arm 35 arranged to pass over the buck and the rear arm 33 is arranged in line with the free end of the arm 35. The clamp band or strap 31 connects the end of the arm 35 and the rear arm 33. Owing to the arm 35 and the location of the arm 33, the strap 31 will overlie the buck 1 several inches from one end of the buck or between the ends of the buck in a crosswise position in respect to the length of the buck. The rectilinear or downward movement of the work holder toward and from the buck is eflected by a movable support or carrier for the carrier frame. The support is here shown as pivoted and as having a slight pivotal movement, the effect of which is practically a rectilinear movement.

37 designates the movable support or carrier which is pivoted at 38 to the frame and the shaft 34 is pivoted to this carrier 37 near its free end. A spring 39 normally resists pivotal downward movement of the carrier and lifts upwardly thereon.

The motor for actuating the work holder and the carrier is here shown as .a cylinder 40 having a piston.41 movable therein and operating connections such as gear means between the piston rod and the carrier. The gearing consists of a driving gear segment 44 mounted concentric with the axis of the support 37 and a driven gear segment 45 meshing with the segment 44 and mounted on the shaft or pivot 34 of the work holder. The gear segment 44 has an arm 46 which islpivoted at 47 to the piston rod 42. Thus, during actuation of the piston, the driving gear the shirt.

44 rotates or rocks the driven gear 45 and in so doing, the carrier arms 32 and 33 are moved about their axis to carry the clamp strap 31 over the buck from the position shown in full lines, Figure 1, to that shown in dotted lines, in which position the strap swings free and clear of the buck. When the forward pivotal movement is restrained by a stop 48 on the rear arm 33 coming in contact with a shoulder 49 on the buck or the bracket supporting the buck, the rotary or rocking movement of the gears 44 and 45 is prevented so that further movement of the lever 46 by the piston causes these gears to act as a fixed unit and thus carry the support 37 downwardly against the action of its spring 39, this movement clamping the strap or tape 31 onto the buck 1 to grip the tail of The work holder remains in clamped position as long as the pressure is maintained in the cylinder 40 as will be hereinafter described.

In order to guard against the downward movement of the gear 45 taking place before the clamp band 31 has completed its forward swinging movement about the axis of the shaft 34,-a lock is provided for locking the carrier support 37 against downward pivotal movement, this lock being operated by one of the gears 44 or 45. This locking means comprises a spring pressed bolt 50 movable in and transversely of the carrier support in a suitable guide and normally held against the action of its spring 51 in engagement with the lug 52 on the frame or a bracket 53 rigid with the frame by a cam face 54 on the side of one of the gears 44 or 45 here shown as the gear 44. This cam has a high portion which normally coacts with the lock 50to hold the lock in operative position and a low portion which comes opposite the bolt 50 and permits the spring 51 to react and move the bolt out of locking position when the work holder strap 31 is completely over the buck 1. As after the work holder is started on its forward pivotal movement, no appreciable force is required to actuate it as it then moves practically under its own momentum, the cam 54 is so shaped as to permit the bolt 50 to withdraw from its operative or locked position before the carrier frame has completed its forward movement as it requires more force to overcome the spring 39 than to actuate the carrier frame through the gearing after the starting impulse is given thereto. During the reverse movement of the mechanism, the lock 50 is reset or pressed in to its operative position by the cam 54. The movement of the actuating lever 46 by the piston 41 is against the action of a returning spring 55 which swings the tail clamp 3132 rearwardly after the ironing operation.

The cylinder 40 is an oscillating cylinder,

it being pivoted at 56 at its lower end to the frame. The control mechanism for the mo tive fluid to the cylinder 40 consists of'a valve casing 57 connected at one end to a source of supply of motive fluid as com-,

pressed air through a pipe 58 and having an outlet or exhaust port passage 59 at its other end, an intake valve 60 and an exhaust valve 61 connected together to act as a unit by a stem 62 in said casing 57, a combined intake and exhaust pipe 63 connecting the valve casing and the cylinder, and manually operated means for operating the valves.

The intake valve 60 is normally closed and the exhaust valve 61 open. A spring 64 acts on the valve 60 to hold it closed. A suitable manually operated cut-ofl .valve 65 is located in the feed line 58. valves 60 and 61 are moved out of their normal position by a manual means here shown as a push button 66 guided in a suitable bracket 67 carried by the main frame of the machine and coacting with a lever 68 which in turn coacts with an intermediate lever 69, the latter acting on the stem 70 of the exhaust valve 61. Obviously, when the button is depressed, the exhaust valve 61 will be closed over the exhaust port 59 and the intake valve 60 opened to uncover the intake port so that the air is caused to pass from the valve casing 57 through the pipe 63 to the cylinder 40.

In order that the operator may be required to only momentarily operate the button 66 so he may not have to stand and hold down the button 66, means is provided for holding the combined valves 60 and 61 in their operated position, i. e., in position to close exhaust port '59. This means is shown as a fluid operated motor as a diaphragm chamber 71 having a diaphragm 72 therein which acts through a plunger 73 on the lever 69' which lever 69 is pivoted at 74 on the press frame. The pressure side of the'diaphragm chamber 71' is connected by a passage 75 to the valve casing 57 between the valves 60 and 61. Obviously, when the button-66 is depressed to open the intake valve 60 and close the exhaust valve 61, some of the air from the valve casing 57 will pass through the passage 75 into the diaphragm chamber 71 and actuate the diaphragm 72 to cause the plunger 7 3 to hold the lever 69 in its operated position.

To permit the air pressure to exhaust from the chamber 71 and'thus allow the Work holder 31 to return to its starting position under the influence of the returning spring 55, means is provided for exhausting the air from the pressure side of the valve chamber 71, this means being a valve casing 76 having a normally spring closed exhaust valve 77 therein and the pipe 78 connecting the valve casing 76 and the pressure side of the diaphragm chamber 71. The spring pressed and closed exhaust valve 77 is operated by a lever 79 pivoted at 80 to the bracket 67 and acting on the stem 81 The combined of the exhaust valve 77. Obviously, when this lever 79 is operated to open the exhaust valve 77, air will be exhausted from the diaphragm chamber thus permitting the spring 64 and also the air pressure in the pipe 58 to close the valve 60 and open theexhaust valve 61 to uncover port 59 so that air is free to exhaustfrom the cylinder 40 back through the pipe 63 out through the valve casing 57 and exhaust passage 59 and also from the diaphragm chamber 71 out through the passage 75 to atmosphere after the operator has released his hold on the lever 79.

The cylinder 40 is formed with a head 82 at one end formed with an intake and exhaustport 83. The pipe 63 is connected to an exhaust valve casing 84 located adjacent the cylinder 40 and having a normally closed exhaust valve 85 therein which is pressed toward its seat by a spring 86, this valve casing 84 be ing connected by a pipe or nipple 87 to the intake passage 83. The valve casing is provided with a by-pass 88 around the valve 85, which by-passis adjusted by a needle valve 89. In operation, the air passes from the pipe 63 through the valve casing 84, by-pass 88, pipe 87, intake port 83 of the cylinder 40 and slowly actuates the piston 41 upwardly until the movement of the piston is limited by the stop 48 coming in contact with the frame shroulder 49. lVhen the exhaust valve operating lever 79 is actuated, the back pressure within the cylinder 40 then lifts the exhaust valve 85 permitt ng the piston 41 to be rapidly retracted and all parts to be returned to their starting position by the spring 55. I

It is observed that by pressing the button 66 conveniently located at the front of the press, the motor means 40 is energized to swing the clamp band 31 forwardly across the buck under the press head. During this initial travel, the clamp band 31 is clear of or above the work on the buck to avoid disturbing or disarranging the smooth lay thereof. After the clamp band 31 has reached final position over and across the buck 1, its next movement is downward to clamp or grip the work, say the tail end of a shirt being ironed to hold the shirt in taut condition. The operator draws the shirt taut, the neck of the shirt usually being held by a neck holder at one end of the buck, and after the band 31 clamps the shirt at its lower portion or tail end, the operator then removes her hands from between the press jaws 1 and 2, whereupon the press is actuated to close its ironing head 2 on the smoothly held work with the result that a rapid and smooth ironing operation is performed. The clamp band is thin and smooth and becomes part of the ironing surface the same as the polished surface of the ironing head 2.

A special feature of the invention resides in the fact that the axis 34, on which this shirt tail clamp or work holder swings, is mounted on the frame 3 of the machine and hence is detached and away from or not on, or not adjacent the buck 1 with which the device cooperates. This arrangement leaves the buck 1 free of all obstructions and thus differs in this and other respects from earlier work holders. The tail clamp frame 32, 33 swings under the buck but'carries the thin clamp band 31 over and across the buck.

Another noteworthy feature of the invention is that the clamp band 31 (see front view of the press in Figure 2) is arranged to come to rest transversely across the buck at a suitable distance from the right hand end thereof so as to always engage the ends or tails of shirts of either long or short lengths. In other words, a long shirt will extend under the clamp band 31 a little further than a short length shirt, and to accomplish this purpose the pivot 34 is positioned to swing the band 31 to a point where it will always grip the shortest length of shirt which is likely to be ironed. The band 31 being thin and polished becomes apart of the ironing surface and is pressed against the work by reason of the ironing head 2 bearing down thereon.

Also it is noted that the single motor means 40 applies a torque at the axis 34 for executing both movements, fix st a swinging movement to carry the band 31 over the buck 1 and then a downward movement to clamp or squeeze the band 31 against the work. Since the axis 34 is remote from the buck 1, as distinguished from prior devices, there is room to mount the motor and its parts without being in the way of the operator and a great practical convenience exists in this regard by not encum- -bering the buck with parts and accessory mechanism carried on or attached to the buck.

WVhat I claim is: i

1. An ironing press and work holder, comprising in combination, coacting press aws, a work holder having successive pivotal and lateral movements into clamping position against one jaw and a reverse of such movements out of clamping position, apivoted support on which the work holder is operatively carried, a driving gear mounted concentric with the axis of the pivoted support, a driven gear means connected to the work holder concentric with the pivotal axis thereof and meshing with the driving gear, motor means connected to the driving gear to oscillate the same, operator-actuated means for controlling the operation of the motor means, and a spring connected to the pivotedsupport to yieldingly resist pivotal movement thereof.

2. An ironing press and work holder, comprising in combination, coacting press jaws, a press frame, a workholder including a pivoted carrier frame and clamp band to engage one of the jaws, a support pivoted on the press frame, the carrier frame being pivoted on the support, a manually controlled motor, motion-transmitting means operatively connecting the motor with the carrier frame to swing the latter on its pivot relatively to the support and to move the support on its pivot, said motion-transmitting means comprising a gear mounted concentric with the axis of the support, another gear concentric with the axis of the carrier and connected thereto and meshing with the former gear, a spring for normally preventingmovement of the support, a lock normally holding the carrier frame-from swinging movement, and means associated with one of said gears for operating the lock to release the support after the carrier frame has started its swinging movement.

3. An ironing press and work holder, comprising in combination, coacting press jaws, a work holder including a pivoted carrier frame and clamp band to engage one of the jaws, a movable support therefor, the carrier frame being pivoted on the support, a manually controlled motor, motion transmitting means between the motor and the carrier frame to swing the latter on its pivot relatively to the support and to shift the support, a lock normally holding the support from shifting, and means operated by the motion-transm tting means to operate said lock to release the support after the pivotal move ment of the carrier frame.

4. An ironing press comprising a pressing element, a work holder movable into and out of juxtaposition to the pressing element and having successive swinging and up and down movements into clamping position and the reverse of such movements out of clamping position, a manually controlled motor, a gear transmission between the motor and the work holder to effect the movement of the work holder into clamping position, and a spring for normally resisting movement of the gear transmission by the motor and for returning of juxtaposition to one of the pressing jaws and having successive pivotal and vertical movements into clamping position and the reverse of such movements out of clamping pos tion, motor-means, connections between the motor means and the work holder to ef fect such movements, comprising a movable support, operating means connecting the movable support to the motor means including a driving gear carried by the support, a driven gear on the support associated with the work holder and mounted concentric with the pivotal axis thereof and movable therewith, locking means normally preventing movement of the support, and means controlled by the rotary movement of said gears to release the locking means.

6. In a garment or ironing press, coacting press jaws, and a work holder therefor to secure work to a jaw, comprising a thin clam ing band, a carrier device on which the c amping band is operatively mounted, pivot means remote from the jaw and on which the carrier device is mounted to swing the clamping band into clamping position a-gamst the work before the press closes and then away from the work out of the way after the press opens, motor means for actuating the carrier device, means to effect a slow travel of the motor means to move the carrier slowly into clamping position against the work, and means to rapidly move the carrier device out of the way after the press opens.

7. In a garment or ironing press, coacting press jaws, and a work holder therefor to secure work to a jaw, comprising a clamping band, a carrier frame on which the clamping band is operatively mounted, pivot means on which the carrier frame is mounted to swing the clamping band into position upon the work before the press closes and then away from the work out of the way after the press opens, motor means for actuating the carrier frame, adjustable means for controlling the speed of the motor means whereby said motor means isadapted to move the carrier frame slowly into position upon the work, and means to rapidly move the carrier frame out of the way after the press opens.

8. A pressing machine comprising a pressing element, a work holder movable into and out of juxtaposition to the pressing element and having back and forth and up and down movements into clamping position and the reverse of such movements out of clamping position, a manually controlled motor, connections between the motor and the work holder to effect such movements, said connections including a movable support, the work holder being pivoted on the support, driving and driven gear means in said connections cooperating with the work holder and connected with the motor, and retaining means for normally restraining movement of the movable support until the work holder is rotated into a position over the buck, and means for releasing the retaining means when the work holder is over the buck.

-9. In a garment or ironing press, coacting press jaws, and a work holder therefor to secure Work to a jaw, comprising a clamping member, a carrier device on which the clamping member is operatively mounted, pivot means on which the carrier device is mounted to swing the clamping member into position upon the work before the press closes and then away from the work out of the way after the press opens, a fluid motor for actuating the carrier, a pressure feed line having a small intake passage leading to the motor, a regulating valve to vary the size of the small intake passage, a large exhaust port by-passing the regulating valve and leading from the motor to the pressure feed line, an exhaust valve normally closing the exhaust port against the admission of fluid pressure into the motor, a normally-closed manuallyoperable valve in the feed line to admit pressure to the motor thru the small intake past the regulating valve, and a manually operable exhaust valve in the feed line to vent the motor to return the work holder to starting position.

10. An ironing'machine comprising a press frame, a pressing head and buck, a work holder therefor comprising a shaft mounted on the press frame remotely from the buck; a swingable frame carried on the shaft and adapted to swing from the rear of the machine toward and from the buck and below the buck, and including a frame portion which comes to rest at the front edge of the buck, another frame portion at the rear edge of the buck and spaced from the first portion; a thin clamp band of sufficient length to reach transversely across the buck and having its ends secured to the spaced frame portions; motor means carried on the machine frame remotely from the buck, and operatively associated with the shaft, and adapted to ap ly torque to the shaft to move the swinga le frame toward and under the buck, and to carry the clamp band over the end and across the buck; and means operatively assoclated with the shaft and cooperating with the motor means to direct the swingable frame and its clamp band downwardly after the band has reached final position transversely of the buck.

11. An ironing press and work holder, comprising in combination, a coactlng press head and buck, a rigid carrier frame comprlsmg arm means to which is attached the ends of a flexible clamp band, an operating pivot on which the carrier frame is mounted for a back and forth swinging movement from the rear of the press forwardly below the buck to bring the clamp band over the end and across the top' of said buck and spacedclear from the work thereon, an air motor including a cylinder and piston rod to actuate the carrier frame, gear means operatively connecting the piston rod with the operating pivot to effect the swinging movement aforesaid, and means associated with the operating pivot for effecting a downward action thereof to engage the clamp band against the work at the end of said forward swinging movement.

12. A pressing machine, comprising in combination, upper and lower pressing elements having relative movement one toward and from the other, a work grip cooperating with the lower pressing element, means supporting the work grip for movement over the lower pressing element into and out of position over the pressing face of said lower pressing element and movable perpendicular- 1y toward and from said element, and means for actuating the work grip to successively move the same over the lower pressing element and then move the work grip perpen-' dicularly toward the pressing element to grip the work and for moving the work grip out of operative position in the reverse order.

13. A pressing machine, comprising in combination, a work supporting member, a work grip for cooperation with said work supporting member, means for supporting the work grip for movement over the work supporting member into and out of position over the work supporting face of said member and for movement perpendicularly toward and from said member, and means for actuating the work grip to successively move the same over said work supporting member and then move the work grip perpendicularly toward the work supporting member to grip work thereon and for moving said work grip out of operative position in the reverse order.

14. An ironing machine,comprising in combination, a press frame, a pressing head and buck, a work holder therefor comprising a shaft; a swingable frame carried on the shaft and adapted to swing from the rear of the machine toward and from the buck and below said buck, and including a frame portion which comes to rest at the front edge of the buck, another frame portion at the rear edge of the buck and spaced from the first frame portion a thin clamp band of suficient length to reach across the buck and having its ends secured to the spaced frame portions; motor means operatively associated with the shaft, and adapted to apply torque to said shaft to move the swingable frame toward and under the buck, and to carry the clamp band across the buck; and means operatively associated with the-shaft and cooperating with the motor means to direct the swingable frame and its clamp band downwardly perpendicularly to the buck after the band has reached final position across the buck.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and in the State of New York,

this 20th day of Oct, 1927 ERNEST DAVIS. 

